Restaurant Review: British Beverage Co.

Like a taste of jolly old England plopped down in Uptown.

By Todd JohnsonFrom D Magazine March 2013Bangers and Mash Photography by Kevin Marple

This new bar and grill, located in the Quadrangle, is just British enough to satisfy Anglophiles without veering into theme park territory. That’s not to say you won’t run across a few cliches, including a London taxi, a faux red phone booth out front, and, yes, a Union Jack or two. But BBC is also handsome, with plenty of tufted brown leather and exposed brick. The food complements the bar’s cozy vibe. Pub fare highlights included savory bangers and mash, with two grilled Cumberland sausages, smashed potatoes, and red wine onion gravy. Scotch eggs—delicate quail eggs and sausage rolled in seasoned breadcrumbs, then fried—were far more artful and tasty than one would expect from traditional British pub food. BBC offers three versions of fish and chips, the best of the bunch being the traditional beer-battered cod fillet served with salt and vinegar chips. You are advised to skip the soggy and bland brioche-crusted halibut variation. BBC even cooks an excellent burger. The juicy beef patty was paired with blue cheese and caramelized onions, all of it sitting between a toasted croissant-style bun. Of course, the main draw to any British pub is its beer selection. BBC offers more than 50 beers on tap and 60 brands in bottles. That means plenty of stouts and porters to indulge your inner guvnah. Brilliant.